The Patient Response to Graded Sensory Stimulation-Pilot Study (PRoGReSS-PS) will measure back pain perceptions in participants who receive either chiropractic treatment or foot massage. The study will also measure back pain and function with research questionnaires and other measures.
The Patient Response to Graded Sensory Stimulation Pilot Study (PRoGReSS-PS) will measure back pain perceptions in participants who receive either chiropractic treatment or foot massage. In this study, the researchers will: 1. Measure the participant's back pain and function using research forms. 2. Test the participant's ability to discern different touch sensations in the low back. 3. Assess the participant's perceptions of the study procedures on research forms during the study and in a short interview at the end of the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
8
This treatment will be applied to the low back region only. During a HVLA treatment, the study doctor will ask the participant to lie on their side on a treatment table. After carefully helping the participant into the proper position, the doctor will make a quick and controlled push with their hand to slightly move joints in the low back. During this procedure, the participant may feel and/or hear a popping sound. After treatment, the doctor may ask the participant to rest on the table for a few moments. During palpation procedure, the doctor will touch several areas in the low back while asking questions about pain, tenderness and other sensations felt during this procedure. The participant will watch the doctor perform the palpation procedure in real time with a tablet computer.
The study doctor will perform a massage of each foot while the participant lies face up in a relaxed position on a treatment table. The procedure will last approximately 10-20 minutes including massage to the toes, heel, sole, and top of each foot.
Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research
Davenport, Iowa, United States
Back Pain Visual Analogue Scale
The Back Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) has excellent metric properties, is easy to administer and score, and is commonly used in LBP research. Our anchors will be no pain to worst pain imaginable and use the average of 3 VAS questions: worst LBP in the last 24 hours; least LBP in the last 24 hours; and average LBP in the last 24 hours.
Time frame: 4 Weeks
Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire
The investigators will also use the participant self-report modified 23-item version of the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) to assess LBP related disability. The RMDQ may be the most common and respected LBP assessment instrument in LBP outcomes research. It is a one-page questionnaire related to low back pain disability with documented reliability and validity. It can discriminate between different forms of treatment for back pain, and it is sensitive to clinical change. The RMDQ has been chosen for a number of clinical trials of LBP treatments for its excellent metric properties, ease of use, participant acceptance, and high face validity.
Time frame: 4 Weeks
Two-Point Discrimination
Participants will lie prone while a blinded assessor determines the threshold for two-point discrimination (TPD). TPD will be measured using a mechanical caliper (Lafayette two-point aesthesiometer, Lafayette IN, USA) with 1 mm precision. Testing will occur by completing two test runs (ascending and descending on each side of the spine) at 5 mm increments beginning with the calipers set at 20 mm and 90 mm respectively on each side of the low back. Participants will be asked to identify whether they perceive one or two points of touch. The single sided average of the ascending and descending TPD threshold will be considered the TPD distance for that side. Periodic out of sequence measurements (check trials) with out of sequence distance between points will reduce the chance of guessing. Two-point discrimination will be measured prior to treatment at study visit 1 and study visit 8.
Time frame: 4 Weeks
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Graphesthesia
Graphesthesia - Participants will sit while a blinded assessor measures graphesthesia on the low back. Prior to measurement, participants will be shown a picture of the letters of the alphabet and the manner in which they will be drawn on the skin of their low back. The letters will be drawn with a monofilament aesthesiometer centered 5 cm lateral to the spinous process without crossing midline. Participants will be asked to identify 10 letters drawn on each side of the low back and error counts will be calculated. Graphesthesia will be measured prior to treatment at Study Visit 1 and at Study Visit 8.
Time frame: 4 Weeks
Line Drawing
Participants will be provided a sheet of paper with a pre-drawn outline of the middle thoracic region and gluteal folds shown from a posterior perspective, but the lower thoracic and lumbar region omitted. Participants will be asked to concentrate on their low back and draw its outline as they currently feel or sense it. The participant will be asked to draw the figure of their low back without touching their back and also to draw any vertebrae that they feel. Participants will be instructed to only draw what they feel rather than what they think their back looks like, and to avoid drawing any part of their back that they cannot sense or feel. Line drawings will be collected prior to treatment at study visits 1 and 8.
Time frame: 4 Weeks